Dental Checkups
Ferndale, WA
Dental Checkups provided by Kelsey Ullsmith, DMD
in Ferndale, WA at Dentistry with Smiles
 There is a very good chance that you do not give your teeth much thought on a day to day basis. To be honest, many people often do not think twice about their teeth on any given day. However, the moment your teeth have pain or discomfort, it may be all that you can think about. Avoiding sudden and acute discomfort in your mouth can be prevented with routine dental checkups with us here at Dentistry with Smiles. By scheduling regular appointments and cleanings, you can help spare yourself from the agony of tooth decay, infection, or other oral health concerns in your mouth.
Why You Need Regular Dental Checkups
There are many things that you can do at home to help maintain your smile. A nutritious and balanced diet, for instance, can help keep your teeth healthy and strong. Avoiding overly sugary foods and drinks, and abstaining from tobacco products, can go far in keeping your teeth at their very best. A good oral hygiene regimen can also go a long way in keeping your teeth healthy.
However, you cannot do it all by yourself. Over time, problems can arise in your mouth without you even being aware of it. For instance, did you know that most instances of oral cancer are detected in the exam chair and not at home? Even regular brushing and flossing cannot prevent buildup (tartar) from forming on your teeth. Bite, and alignment issues can suddenly arise, too, which will need intervention from us.
What Will Happen at Your Appointment with Us?
When you come in for your dental checkup, you can count on a few different things occurring when you are in our office. We will start your appointment with an oral examination. That means that we will carefully and thoroughly inspect inside your mouth, checking all surfaces to ensure that they are healthy. This includes looking for tooth decay, issues with your gums (including checking the depth of your dental pockets), and any lesions that might indicate that you may have oral cancer.
Next, we may advise dental X-rays. This will give us a better view of your oral health. We typically recommend bitewing X-rays every two to three years, but we may also advise them more frequently if you have any pressing oral health concerns. Please note that dental X-rays are completely safe and give off only a nominal amount of radiation, less than the amount that you would naturally accrue in an entire year.
Our next step includes cleaning your teeth for you. This includes scaling, which means we will remove all hardened buildup and debris from your teeth. We will also floss your teeth for you during your appointment. If you observe bleeding during your flossing, this can indicate that you are not adequately flossing at home. We may also polish your teeth using a special type of gritty toothpaste and offer you a fluoride rinse.
If we notice anything of concern during your appointment, we will address them with you afterward. This will include any recommendations for treatment and follow-up care. We strongly advise that you see us every six months for a routine dental checkup. If it has been longer than six months since you last saw us, or you would like to learn more about dental checkups, please give us here at Dentistry with Smiles a call today at (360) 647-1715! |
